August 30, 2007

Embassy Press Release

INNOVATIVE TRAINING FOR ROMANIAN VETERINARIANS

The University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest hosted today the opening ceremony of the Veterinary Technician Certificate Program and Training Laboratory.

Officials of the U.S. Embassy, Romanian Ministry of Agriculture, National Sanitary, Veterinary, and Food Safety Authority, Romanian Association of Poultry Producers, Institute for Animal Disease Diagnosis and Animal Health, and the Pasteur Institute attended the ceremony. Speakers included Debra Mosel, Acting Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Scott Goldman, International Affairs Specialist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), senior faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and specialists from Delaware Technical and Community College.

The Veterinary Laboratory Technician Certificate program was developed by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with experts from Delaware Technical and Community College during a two-year program funded by the U.S. Government through USAID and USDA. This program has been designed to meet the continuing educational demands of those employed in both the state veterinary authorities and commercial laboratories in Romania. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine used the Delaware Technical and Community College Medical Laboratory Technician program as its model to increase Romania’s capacity to respond to outbreaks of avian influenza and other animal disease, improve animal health, and comply with EU food safety standards.

“I congratulate you wholeheartedly for your commitment to increase the testing and diagnostic capacity of governmental and commercial laboratories in Romania. The skills acquired by technicians and veterinarians through this partnership will pay enormous dividends by improving Romania’s ability to combat not just avian influenza but other animal diseases as well,” said Debra Mosel.

In addition to offering the certificate program, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine established new training laboratories. One laboratory is dedicated to support the Veterinary Laboratory Technician Certificate program. This laboratory, which was inaugurated today during a ribbon cutting ceremony, is furnished with new modern equipment and supplies purchased by USAID.

For additional information please contact:
Carmen Podani, Agriculture Specialist USAID
Tel.: (021) 316-1222, ext.147

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